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properties of x-bar

X-bar theory. Specifier Rule: XP ?(YP) X'Adjunct Rule: X' ?(ZP) X' or X' ? X' (ZP)Complement Rule: X' ? X (WP). Predictions?. Propose three different kinds of modifiers:specifierscomplementsadjunctsIs this valid? Are there really three different kinds? Do they have different properties.

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properties of x-bar

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    1. Properties of X-bar Complements, Adjuncts, & Specifiers.

    2. X-bar theory

    3. Predictions? Propose three different kinds of modifiers: specifiers complements adjuncts Is this valid? Are there really three different kinds? Do they have different properties

    4. Formal Definitions

    7. Complements always closest to head The book [of poems] [by Burns] head complement adjunct *The book [by Burns] [of Poems] head adjunct complement

    8. Only one complement, multiple adjuncts X’ ?(ZP) X’ or X’ ? X’ (ZP) Iterative X’ ? X (WP) not iterative

    9. Adjuncts can be reordered

    10. Conjunction The conjunction rule: Xn ? Xn Conj Xn The red and blue house *The red and cat Complements can be conjoined with complements: The book of poems and of essays Adjuncts can be conjoined with adjuncts The book with the red cover and with a blue spine Complements cannot be conjoined with adjuncts *The book of poems and with the red cover

    11. One replacement One Replacement: replace N’ with one.

    12. One replacement The book from Blackwell not the [N’one] from Oxford *The book of poems not the one of essays (There is a dialectal difference about the acceptability of this last sentence)

    13. Telling complements from adjuncts

    14. Interesting ambiguity The English teacher Teacher from England (adjunct reading) Teacher of the English language (complement)

    15. Interesting ambiguity The Spanish English teacher (can only have language teacher reading) The English teacher of Spanish (can only have nationality reading) The Math and English teacher (can only have the language reading) The Canadian and English teacher (can only have the nationality reading) The English one (can only have the nationality reading)

    16. An easy mistake to make! When you have only one PP modifier or AP modifier, be very careful to see if it is a complement or adjunct. If it is an adjunct it must be a sister to the X’ level!!!!!

    17. The complement/adjunct distinction in VPs John [VP often eats apples with a fork] adjunct head complement adjunct In VPs, the direct object is always the complement. Other things require thought. For example the verbs give and put take two complements a NP and PP. I gave the apple to John (both are complements) I put the book on the table

    18. I loved the policeman intensely with all my heart

    19. Adverbial NPs He read faithfully every day. What does the tree look look like? Is “faithfully” an adjunct? * He read faithfully his syntax book. What can we conclude about how “every day” and “his syntax book”? Complements come closer to the head than adjuncts

    20. Only 1 occurrence of each complement *I loved the policeman the fireman Reordering I loved the policeman with all my heart intensely I loved the policeman intensely with all my heart *I loved intensely the policeman with all my heart *I loved intensely with all my heart the policeman Conjunction I loved the policeman and the fireman I loved the policeman intensely and with all my heart *I loved the policemand and intensely

    21. Do so replacement Susan loved the policemen intensely with all her heart but/and Mary did so with her brain! Mary did so mildly with her brain *Mary did so the fireman

    22. APs and PPs??? Evidence is much weaker. very afraid of tigers adjunct head complement very in love with himself adjunct head complement ???? a man in love with all his heart ? a man in love with all his heart with himself We will assume the distinction exists here

    23. Specifiers The only element we have seen in specifiers so far is the determiner. In the next chapter, we’ll argue that even these aren’t real specifiers. Instead, we’ll argue the specifier is where subjects are generated. More on this later. For now, understand the definition (sister to X’, daughter of XP), and put determiners there.

    24. Summary Specifier: sister to X’, daughter of XP Adjunct: sister to X’, daughter of X’ Complement: sister to X, daughter of X’ X-bar theory predicts differences in behavior between complements and adjuncts only one complement, multiple adjuncts complement must be closest to head adjuncts can be reordered conjunction *One/did so + complement

    25. Summary Complement/Adjunct distinction hold of pre-head material too. The C/A distinction can capture ambiguity There is strong evidence for the C/A distinction in NPs and VPs The evidence for APs and PPs is weaker We are leaving specifiers aside for the moment as something to be dealt with later.

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